In cultural studies, Gan Aliya students learned about the history of Thanksgiving. They explored the story of the Pilgrims, who left England to escape the harsh king and sailed on the Mayflower to a new land. To bring the story to life, the children created their own Mayflower boats and used a map of the continents to trace the Pilgrims’ journey. They took turns pretending to be Pilgrims, excitedly shouting “land ho!” when they “spotted” land for the first time. The children also learned how the Native Americans helped the Pilgrims adapt by teaching them to grow crops and fish, and how they came together for a feast to give thanks.

In language studies, as part of this exploration, the children used a Montessori work called “The Moveable Alphabet” to express gratitude. This material, typically introduced to children between the ages of 4 and 6, helps prepare them for writing, reading and spelling. The excited students used the moveable alphabet to spell out words and form sentences, including “I am thankful for my family and Kidville!” This hands-on activity allowed the children to creatively express their gratitude, tying the theme of thankfulness into both their writing and their learning about Thanksgiving.